Caster



(No Model.) 5 J. TOLER.

GASTER.

No. 448,806. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

@ QW John T M) 4 FFIQE.

PATENT JOHN TOLER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,306, dated March 1'7, 1891.

Application filed December 11, 1890. Serial No. 374,318. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TOLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters; and I do hereby declare the following to be full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of piano-casters represented by the one shown in my prior patent, No. 389,341, granted September 11, A. D. 1888.

The objects of the improvements are to simplify the construction of the device, reduce the number of working parts, and to enable the said device to be constructed with a greater ease and facility and at a reduced cost. A further object is to secure a more perfect and certain working of the device when in connection with the piano or other piece of heavy furniture.

The invention consists in the improved caster and in the arrangements and combinations of parts thereof, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures, Figure 1 isa side elevation of the improved caster. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with a certain top plate removed; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at line a, Fig. 2. Fig. t is a detail view of one of the rollers.

In said drawings, A indicates the caster wheel or wheels pivoted on a pin A between ears B of a rotary or pivoted bracket-plate B, the said plate being substantially the same in construction as the one shown in said prior patent, excepting that it is devoid of the rectangular annular groove referred to in said patent. The outer edge of said plate is provided with a guarding-flange (Z, and on the upper face of said plate just inside of said flange the plate is provided with an annular and convexed bearing d for the anti-friction rollers e.

O indicates an upper bearing-plate adapted to be screwed or otherwise fastened or secured to the leg or other portion of the article of furniture. Said upper plate is correspond ingly provided with a guarding-flange c and a convexed path or way I) for the rollers, and is also provided with screw-holes or other means whereby the said plate may be held in engagement with the furniture. The two said plates A and O are held in pivotal relation one to the other in parallel horizontal planes and with their annular guarding-flanges coinciding, as shown in Fig. 3, bya vertical pin or rivet D, by means of which said plates are held together. Between said plates, in the chamber formed within the guarding-flanges, is arranged a separating-disk F, which at the center is arranged on a center bearing or shoulder f, formed on the lower or bracket plate, the said disk being provided with a central perforation which nicely receives said shoulder, so that the said disk may work on said shoulder without looseness or irregular movement or friction. Suitable perforations g are provided in said disk to allow of the screws or the screw driver being passed through to the'top plate in securing the caster to or removing the same from the furniture. At the periphery of the said disk the same is notched, as at h, to receive and hold at suitable distances apart the rollers e. Thus the one plate serves to separate all the rollers. At the notches the disk may be provided with ribs 2' to strengthen the plates and more perfectly hold the rollers in vertical position. The rollers are made convex on the outer side to conform to the curve in the flanges, and as they bear on the crowns of the two convexed bearings they are allowed a certain oscillatory play without binding. Between the separating-disk and the upper plate a helical spring j is arranged around the pin D, and is thereby held in a central position and bears evenly on the plate. Said spring bears on the disk to prevent vibration and consequent noise when the piano is being played upon, as will be understood.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the three rollers shown in the drawings, inasmuch as the number may be varied at will without departing from the invention, and other changes or modifications may be employed in accommodating the invention to particular conditions and circumstances.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new is 1. The improved furniture -caster herein described, combining with the bracketed plate provided with the Wheel or wheels A an upper plate provided with means whereby the same may be secured to the furniture, rollers interposed between said plates, a pivoted separating-disk having notches h to receive said rollers, and ribs cat the sides of said notches, said parts being arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a caster, the combination, with the pivotally-arranged plates, a pin D, and an intermediate plate provided with notches to receive the anti-friction rollers, of a helical spring arranged on said pin and bearing on said plate to prevent vibration, substantially w the said roller-separatingplate from vibrat- 25 ing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of December, .1890.

JOHN TOLER.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, OSCAR A. MICHEL. 

